Hello my lovely readers! Yes, this fic is about to get even sweeter now that cake's in the equation, so warning once again, fluffiness ahead!
Also, as a thank you to my loyal readers who take time to comment on almost every single chapter, I dedicate this chapter to you, so Elhana Lupa, Niyuis and AO3 users Hessy, TheTsundereWife, RavenMajere, ysv, hope you enjoy the sweetness of Yohna this chapter!
Thank you to everyone who makes time to read my fic and even more for commenting on it, it really motivates me to continue writing! It was such a pleasant surprise last chapter to see how many of you enjoyed it, so BIG THANK YOU! 3
SUMMARY: Yoh and Anna go to have some cake together and everything just gets even sweeter.
TIMELINE: still at the Yohna date.
Chapter 12: Just a couple on a date
(Part 2: I love you and the cake)
"What a wonderful day to be out!" Yoh beamed as they got off the train stretching.
The sun was shining brightly despite the winter day and the weather had forecast it to be a warm day. Fortunately for the two teens, they didn't particularly have problems with the cold, so they didn't seem bothered by the current weather. Especially Anna and her uncovered shoulders.
"Yeah, it was forecast to be an unusually warm day, so let's make the most of it while it lasts."
"Where are we heading?"
"There's a nice Sweetshop that the commercials always show when I watch TV, so I thought we could try it out. They have a special Saturday discount too."
"You mean we'll get cakes?"
"Yeah, we'll get cakes and drinks, Yoh. And then…"
"Yeeeeh!" Yoh cheered like a child at the thought of getting something sweet.
They usually didn't have dessert after their meals because according to Anna, 'it wasn't good for his diet' or hers and Yoh only saw her eating rice cookies at times. And again, the money they had was for necessities only and having dessert wasn't one. During her childhood, Kino only gave Anna sweets very rarely - once or twice a year and more like a birthday gift - too afraid it will make the girl suffer more - she didn't need a hyper child with uncontrollable powers around.
Considering Yoh, his family just didn't give him many sweets either because Yohmei thought they won't help with training and he also didn't want a hyper kid around - he and Kino must have talked. However, they did allow him on special occasions and Yoh also sneaked some from the kitchen when he knew no one will find out. His grandfather wouldn't use his divination skills for silly things as monitoring if his nephew ate the last pie/cookie/chocolate or not.
So of course the thought of having dessert with Anna overjoyed the boy almost annoying Anna because he interrupted her.
"Yoh, I'm speaking!" She snapped.
"Oh, sorry Anna, I just was really looking forward to having cake, you know we barely ever have any…"
"Yes, I know, we buy expensive stuff and then eat rice, of course we don't afford dessert!" Anna sighed but then seeing him deflate added. "I'll maybe share some of my rice cakes with you from now on if you finish your training earlier than the time I give you."
"I always finish at least seconds before your deadline!" Yoh said happily at the prospect of getting dessert more often.
"Then you may get to me to get a cake. But don't get it yourself, who knows, you might be a sugar addict or something and I find you ate all of it in one go!"
"I promise I'll behave Anna! I'll only come to you!" Yoh assured.
"Good! Now as I was saying after this, there's a big park where a lot of people go to relax, read or study as it's quite close to a university and students like studying there because it's quiet." Anna explained.
"Great plan, Anna!" Yoh smiled at her.
"Amidamaru!" Anna called.
"Yes Anna."
"Lead the way to the dessert place. I hear you hum the ad song almost on a daily basis, so how about you get us there. I am sure I've sent you here at least once this week."
"Yes Anna, I know perfectly fine where it is. Just follow me."
"Oh, wow, great, thank you Amidamaru!" Yoh smiled gratefully as he grabbed Anna's hand to drag her after him.
"Yoh, careful, you know I can't walk fast on those!"
"Sorry Anna!" He locked his arm around hers before he intertwined their hands. "Better?"
"Yes." She replied shyly and followed him.
"Yoooh…toooodaaay." Anna sing-sang slightly annoyed crossing her arms.
They've reached the Sweetshop and Yoh's been starring at the different cakes for the past ten minutes. Fortunately, by some sheer coincidence, it's been just them inside the shop and it didn't look like any more customers would be coming any sooner.
Yoh's eyes sparked with excitement and joy and his mouth had a huge grin as if he's watching the Christmas tree full of presents. Anna tried to be patient and understandable. They were at least 20 different types of cakes and she couldn't stop herself smiling watching her cheery fiancée bounce from one cake to another to read the labels with ingredients. However, she didn't want to spend the whole date in the shop, especially ever since she noticed the shop lady assistant has been eyeing Yoh.
"Almost done Anna, I just need to check them one more time, don't want to miss a good one."
"They are all good ones, the best you can find!" The shop assistant intruded smiling at Yoh. "I haven't personally tried them all, but the ones I've tried were fantastic, sweetheart!"
"He's not your sweetheart, he's my sweetheart." Anna snapped emphasizing each word.
Yoh blushed. He was still focused on choosing the right cake, yet he was also listening to the conversation.
"Oh, sorry for the confusion sweety, it's a sweetshop, everyone here are sweethearts to me!" The lady replied to Anna unbothered by her attitude, smile still on. "But I must admit I've been staring at this one because he's a pleasure to watch, he's basically radiating happiness! You got quite the cutey here! Is he your boyfriend?" The lady added winking at Anna, yet her eyes still followed Yoh.
"Fiancée." Both Yoh and Anna replied. The former answers causally while beaming at some cake. The latter is smugly watching the lady, eyeing her reaction.
"How sweet and unexpected!" The lady's smile grew even bigger and she clasped her hands in a very 'happy Amidamaru' way. "I also have a fiancée, look at the ring he gave me!" She added and shoved her hand in Anna's face.
Anna's eyes went wide - she didn't expect this kind of reaction from the shop assistant. She truly believed the lady liked Yoh, so she tried to scare her away. She didn't consider the lady might actually be a nice person, she's not used to people being genuinely kind to her other than Yoh. But then again Anna remembered the lady works in a shop, so it's her duty to be nice to customers.
She looked at the lady's ring. It was quite simple - gold with a big zirconium stone on top of it.
Anna didn't have a ring and she never expected one because it was an arranged marriage. Her engagement with Yoh was sealed with a promise while this lady's was sealed with a ring. Theirs is much special and above this mundane modern tradition, yet that didn't stop Anna from wondering how she would feel if Yoh got her a ring.
"It's beautiful." Anna replied with honesty while she looked at Yoh with the corner of her eyes.
To an outsider, Yoh looked fine. He was still smiling and watching cakes. However, she knew him better. His happy smile had slightly decreased and his eyes had lost a bit of their joy and reflected sadness. She wanted to somehow tell him it's fine and she didn't want a ring - he, with his love and devotion were and are enough to her.
"Thank you, sweetheart! Do you have one or just didn't wear it today? Or is your family old fashioned and skipped the ring tradition?"
"We don't need a ring to prove our love for each other and it's something between us anyway, it's none of any nosy outsider's business how we reflect our relationship." Anna bit back coldly annoyed by how chatty and intrusive the lady was. And she's also afraid Yoh will be getting sadder, she's not even looking at him. It's not his fault his family didn't give her a ring! "Now, can I have a dark chocolate cake with strawberry mousse and apple fresh juice. Thank you. Yoh, you?"
The lady's face finally cracked, the smile falling for a second, before she forced it up despite her obvious annoyance.
"Of course."
Anna noticed the lady didn't use sweetheart anymore and she's relieved because this 'fake' attitude had been really irking her. She felt someone's grab her hand and stiffened before she immediately relaxed realizing it's just Yoh who's now next to her, smiling gently.
"I'll have an orange cake with caramel. And a fresh orange juice for me, please."
"You can have another one if you want Yoh, at every two cakes and juices we get half price on a third cake or juice." Anna said encouraging squeezing his hand.
"Really?" All of a sudden any traces of sadness were gone and Yoh's eyes were once again sparkling with joy.
Anna nodded with a big smile on her face upon seeing she somehow managed to bring back his pure happiness.
"I want the chocolate truffle cake with rose petals!" Yoh beamed pointing at one of the fanciest-looking cakes in the shop and the lady nodded before she went to take a slice to place it on a plate.
Then she disappeared in the back of the shop to bring fruits for the juices and also make them, so the two teens have been left by themselves and to their own romantic impulses.
"I didn't know people eat flowers with chocolate, I really want to try it!" Yoh whispered in Anna's ears, making her giggle.
"You're adorably cute Yoh." Her voice is soft.
Yoh looked at Anna surprised. It's not the voice that has awed him as much as her face. Her eyes looked gently at him with compassion, sparkling with love and her mouth was curved in a small kind smile. It's a rare sight, Yoh's certain he'd never seen her smile like this before, so he decided to cherish the moment.
In one of his scarce bold impulses, Yoh brought his face close to Anna's until their noses are touching and he nuzzled his nose to hers for a few seconds before he retracted it fast away, face red as a tomato, yet pleased he'd had the courage to do it. He appreciated Anna's subtle ways of taking care of him as well as her new open ways of showing her affection for him! He loves being loved by Anna.
Yoh waited for Anna's reaction, prepared even to be hit despite the deal, and to his surprise, she giggled before she leaned forward and placed one fast kiss on his cheek before she turned around playing with her hands, yet she had a big, uncharacteristic grin on her face. And she was blushing madly just as Yoh. The boy leaned forward to peek at her 'tomato' face and she just turned further away crossing her arms and fake putting which only made both burst into more giggling.
In the meantime, the lady came back and despite her previous crankiness triggered by Anna, upon seeing the two red and giggling, she couldn't suppress a smile. She handed them their order and waved friendly earning a friendly smile back from Yoh and one ugly stare from Anna. But the lady no longer cared as she's just moved her attention to some new customers who have just entered.
Yoh and Anna found a table outside, furthest away from all the buzz of the other ones. Upon seeing the sweets, all the previous shyness was forgotten and the two were happily enjoying their dessert. Anna's savouring hers, taking small spoons and sips of her juice, while Yoh looked as if he's about to vacuum the whole cake with one bite. The girl eyed him with one of her iconic looks and he froze in place, mouth full of caramel and orange.
"Sorry Anna, you can have some too." Yoh mumbled trying not to choke while speaking and pushed his plate slightly forward, misinterpreting her anger.
'She's been so nice to me and I didn't even consider sharing with her too, we're on a date after all…that's what I should do, right?' Yoh questioned himself looking shyly at her while rubbing his hand on the back of his head in awkwardness. 'Am I supposed to feed her? Is that why she got upset? Is there some kind of ritual for dates that boys have to do with their girlfriends? But mine's my fiancée too, so does that mean I should skip some parts? But what if Anna wants those steps? And what are those steps? Wonder if Amidamaru has seen any telenovela with dates to fill me in, though it's late to ask him now, why didn't I ask before…'
"Eat like a normal person, not like one who's never seen food before, Yoh!" Anna lectured him eyes narrowed before she relaxed adopting a neutral look. "You'll draw attention too and that's the last thing we want. And if you insist I can take some too…what, did you change your mind? What's that look?"
"Well…"
"Out with it Yoh, you know I have zero patience."
"I…you know…should I…" Yoh mumbled getting very red.
"Yoh!" Anna face palmed and eyed him exasperated. "I don't need my powers to see that you're thinking too much over something, so just say it or…" She eyed his cake and moved her spoon towards it taking a big part of it before putting it in her mouth, adding playfully. "…or I'll eat your cake until you speak your min…"
"SHOULD I FEED YOU?!" Yoh blurred a bit too loud causing some nearby customers to turn around.
Anna was so surprised her eyes widened, her mouth opened in astonishment and her cake got caught in her throat accidentally. She started coughing.
"Sorry Anna, didn't mean to shout it."
Anna continued to cough trying to catch her breath.
"Are you OK?" Yoh asked concern upon seeing her face go red.
Some people started to stare worried and Yoh was about to come closer to her, when the girl finally caught her breath, managing to properly swallow the bite. She turned around to give a murderous glare to everyone making them to immediately turn back to their tables, before she looked at Yoh only to be met with two big concerned brown eyes.
"Anna, are you OK? I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to startle you this bad, I am deeply sorry if I said something inappropriate."
His hand was on hers and now the redness of her face had moved in her cheeks. Involuntary she pulled at his hand, the previous almost choking event having startled her a bit too much for her own comfort. She needed something to ease her tension. Yoh moved his chair closer to hers.
"Yes, I am fine now and no, it wasn't inappropriate Yoh, I was just honestly really surprised you asked, I thought you're still dwelling over the previous event which…" She eyed him seriously. "I really don't need a ring to mark our engagement." Then she moved her gaze away and mumbled. "OK, do it. You can feed me cake."
"OK…" He said shyly.
In all truth, he only said it because he thought he should do it or she wanted him to do it, so now he's feeling rather uncomfortable shy to do it. However, he had to live up to his words so he took a spoon of cake, eyed Anna's mouth, closed his eyes and moved his hand forward only to be caught mid-air, almost making him drop the spoon.
"You're going to poke my eyes if you don't look. Or worse, get cake on my new outfit. And we didn't eat rice for a week for you to mess up the outfit now. . EYES. OPENED." She told him annoyed emphasizing each word.
Anna was extremely nervous. Why did she say yes to him feeding her? That really wasn't something they would do, but Yoh suggested it and she wanted to try it because she's seen so many couples do it. So, she said yes and now she's trying to cover her uncomfortable feeling with annoyance and fortunately Yoh's currently making that task easier for her.
Yoh tried again, this time keeping his eyes open. He eyed the mouth, moving his hand slowly forward. He looked at her and that's his mistake. Anna's golden eyes were watching him shining with curiosity and her cheeks were slightly red. And then there's the ribbon, Yoh's weakness. His hand started to tremble halfway, and Anna grabbed his wrist again, her gaze now angrily looking at him.
"Yoh, you suggested it, why can't you just do this properly!" She huffed letting go of his wrist to cross her hands in annoyance.
"I'm sorry Anna, it's just…"
"What now Yoh? Having second thoughts of sharing your cake?"
"No, it's just…" Yoh's face is all red.
"Just?" Anna's fists were starting to clench in fury.
He didn't want to mess up all her efforts for this date or ruin the mood with his shyness so he took a big breath to compose himself.
"You just look so great Anna it's really hard for me to focus, especially with your face so close. You just look too cute." Yoh admitted trying to keep his voice steady, yet avoided looking at her.
"Yoh?"
"Yes…?"
"Open up."
"Huh?" He lifted his gaze while instinctively opened his mouth just in time to receive a spoon full of cake in his mouth.
"There. Done. That's how you do it." Anna said proudly looking at him, yet her cheeks were red. "So what if I'm cute, does that mean I'm not allowed cake? That didn't stop me for feeding you, so you better get this right now." She added avoiding his gaze as she put the empty spoon down.
Yoh's eyes went wide. Did she just call him cute again? It was already the second time in the past hour and the third time since the date started, counting the train events. And that also was his line for her! His face broke into a big smile, feeling nice upon hearing that from her so many times. 'She must really mean it!' Yoh realized feeling warmth embracing him.
In addition, her cake tasted delicious, so he had another reason to be content. He took the spoon and this time made it to her mouth which she gladly accepted despite not being as fond of his cake. But seeing him smile like that made it worth it.
"See, it wasn't so bad."
"It was better than I expected!" Yoh said thrilled.
Now that they both fed each other, it didn't seem so bad and embarrassing or out of their character anymore. They found it quite fun to do.
Yoh and Anna's eyes met, their love for each reflecting on each other's face - eyes shining kindly, mouths curved into a big happy smile, cheeks slightly red.
"Awwwww, you two are so adorable, I need one of those modern portable TVs to capture this moment into a portrait!" Amidamaru burst out of the nowhere crying tears of joy. "Fernando and Camille also fed each other when Fernando first cooked for Camille and gave her…"
"SHUT UP IDIOT, YOU'RE RUINING OUR MOMENT!" Anna shouted throwing the small vase with decorative flowers from the table in his way, but it obviously went through.
Some people turned around to look.
"I'm allergic to these flowers, got a problem?" Anna hissed at the nosey people.
"They're of plastic." Yoh whispered conspiratorially.
"I'm allergic to plastic flowers and these flowers in particular, want me to sneeze in your face for proof?" Anna added now murderously looking at the staring people.
All the nosey people turned back to their tables afraid to even look in their direction anymore.
"And you!" Anna said looking at Amidamaru fury burning out of her while she tried to keep her voice normal, yet sharp not wanting to draw anymore unwanted attention. "Could you stop turning me and Yoh for a second into Fernando and Camille?! We're better than some made-up TV couple! And it's also none of your business what we're doing, go back to your guarding, what if someone who knows us passes by like Manta in the train?! Do you really want me to cause a scene and send you to hell so we can enjoy our date peacefully?!"
Amidamaru disappeared crying in fear this time.
"Now, where were we? Let's finish our cake."
Yoh nodded cheery and they continued to enjoy their cakes and juices, making small chat at times.
When Yoh moved to the second cake he pushed the plate in the middle of the table drawing Anna's attention. He smiled in her direction and started eating the cake. Understanding, Anna smiled back and she also started to eat from the cake, pleased by his intention to share the sweet with her. She liked this one more than his first cake, but she didn't want to admit that she loved sweets, especially chocolate because that would reveal her little secret.
Yoh wasn't the only reason they couldn't afford sweets in the house - she would probably eat as many as him as she loved chocolate probably as much as him if not more. With rice cakes, it was easier because she didn't like them that much to eat them often, but with chocolate, she was certain she would just devour it just as Yoh did when he started eating his cake after they bought them.
